Trailer hitch having multiple hitch balls

ABSTRACT

A trailer hitch is provided having multiple hitch balls extending from a rotatable plate, which allows a hitch ball of the desired diameter to be selected, locked in place and coupled to a trailer. The rotating plate and multiple hitch balls are part of the ball mount component of the trailer hitch and are supported by a shaft, extending outward from the portion of the trailer hitch attached to a vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the ball mount component of a trailer hitchhaving multiple hitch balls mounted on a rotating plate, and a trailerhitch incorporating such a ball mount component.

A trailer may be connected to a vehicle via a trailer hitch. The trailerhitch is attached to a vehicle and typically includes a hitch ballpositioned at an appropriate height off the ground to engage the tongueof the trailer. A coupler at the end of the trailer tongue fits over thehitch ball and locks into place, allowing the vehicle and trailer topivot in relation to each other, for example, when making turns, butprevents separation. The “ball mount” is the component of the trailerhitch that includes the hitch ball(s) and the supporting structure forthe hitch ball(s).

In the United States, trailer hitches are rated according to weightcapacity, in particular gross towing weight (the gross weight of thetrailer and its load) and tongue weight (the downward force of thetrailer tongue on the hitch ball). Class I hitches are for towing up to2,000 lbs. gross trailer weight and up to 200 lbs. tongue weight. ClassII hitches are for towing up to 3,500 lbs. gross trailer weight and upto 350 lbs. tongue weight. Class III hitches are for towing up to 6,000lbs. gross trailer weight and up to 600 lbs. tongue weight. Class IVhitches are for towing up to 12,000 lbs. gross trailer weight and up to1,200 lbs. tongue weight. Class V hitches are for towing gross trailerweights greater than 12,000 lbs. and tongue weights greater than 1,200lbs.

The coupler on the trailer tongue and the hitch ball are available indifferent sizes, and it is necessary to match the size of the couplerand the hitch ball, to ensure proper operation during towing. Forexample, in the United States, common hitch ball sizes range from 1⅞″ to3″, measured as the diameter of the hitch ball. Accordingly, whenswitching from one trailer to the next, it is often necessary for thedriver of the vehicle to switch the hitch ball, to accommodate the sizeof the trailer's coupler.

One method of facilitating the switch from one size hitch ball toanother has been to provide a ball hitch assembly having multiple hitchballs. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,315,316 B1, Wyant discloses a turntable havingmultiple hitch balls bolted to it. In particular, the hitch balls aremounted on the turntable by a threaded stud, extending downward from thehitch ball and through the turntable, and held in place with a nut. Aspacing member is interposed between the turntable and the supportingshaft of the ball mount, to provide sufficient clearance to allow theturntable to rotate. The spacing member creates a “moment arm” betweenthe turntable and the supporting shaft, however, which is undesirableand can limit the weight that can be towed by the trailer hitch.

A trailer hitch having selectable, multiple hitch balls is disclosed inRoss, U.S. Pat. No. 6,497,428 B2. The multiple hitch balls are mountedon a revolving plate, which is supported by a “base plate” welded to thesupport shaft. A locking pin may be inserted through holes in therevolving plate and base plate, to hold a hitch ball in a desiredposition. The use of a base plate in the ball mount mechanism has anumber of drawbacks, which include added weight, introduction of extraassembly steps to weld the base plate to the support shaft, and creationof the opportunity for moisture trapped between the revolving plate andthe base plate to rust the assembly. Further, as the thickness of thebase plate increases, a moment arm is created between the revolvingplate and the shaft.

Despite earlier efforts, there remains a need for an improved trailerhitch, having multiple hitch balls, which meets one or more of thefollowing objectives. The trailer hitch should have a minimum of partsand be relatively easy to assemble. It should be relatively inexpensiveto manufacture. The trailer hitch should be designed to maximize themechanical advantage of the load bearing components, thereby maximizingits weight handling (towing) capabilities. It should be easy to serviceand maintain. The trailer hitch should be easy to operate, that is, easyto change from one hitch ball to another and easy to connect to atrailer. Further, the ball mount component of the trailer hitch shouldbe interchangeable with and/or compatible with the receiver hitchcomponent of standard trailer hitches.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A trailer hitch may be characterized as having two components: areceiver hitch component, which is the primary device attached to avehicle, and a ball mount component, which connects to the receiverhitch. The ball mount component has a plurality of hitch balls, whichare attached to a rotating plate, and a shaft supporting the plate, sothat the hitch balls are accessible to a trailer to be towed.

In general terms, the shaft of the ball mount connects to the receiverhitch so that the ball mount will be securely held in place, when atrailer is coupled to a hitch ball and is being towed by a vehicle. Instandard trailer hitches, the ball mount has a shaft, which is designedto slide into an opening in the receiver hitch, corresponding tocomplimentary male and female elements, respectively. The shape of theball mount shaft and the receiver hitch opening may conveniently berectangular, typically square, so the shaft will not rotate and will beheld in a fixed orientation. The shaft may be secured in the receiverhitch by a pin, which passes through holes lined up in the shaft andreceiver hitch. Accordingly, the ball mount of the present invention isinterchangeable with and can be substituted for prior art ball mounts,in a standard trailer hitch assembly. Alternatively, the shaft may beattached to the receiver hitch by a permanent or semi-permanentconnection, such as by one or more welds, bolts, screws, pins or byother method known to those skilled in the art.

A plurality of hitch balls are attached to and extending outward from anupper surface of the plate. The hitch balls are characterized by aspherical ball, a shank and a base, with the base typically being flaredat the bottom to maximize stability. At least two hitch balls arepresent. The upper limit of the number of hitch balls that may beattached to the plate is bounded by the practical limitations of (a)size, i.e. there must be enough spacing between hitch balls to allowtowing operations—to allow the trailer coupler to fit over the hitchball and to allow the tongue of the trailer to pivot when the vehicleturns; and (b) necessity, for example, most towing needs may be met byfour sizes of hitch ball: 1⅞″, 2″, 2 5/16″ and 3″. A balance ofversatility and practicality is typically met by employing three or fourhitch balls.

The hitch balls are attached to the plate so as to remain securely inplace when the hitch ball is coupled to a trailer. There is noparticular limitation on the means used to attach the hitch ball to theplate, except that rotation of the plate, relative to the shaft, shouldnot be restricted. Restriction of rotation of the plate may be avoidedby ensuring that the means used to attach the hitch ball to the uppersurface of the plate does not protrude beyond the lower surface of theplate. By way of example, the hitch balls may be welded to the plate,the hitch balls may have threaded studs that can be screwed into theplate, or a combination of the foregoing techniques may be employed.

The plate is characterized by an axis of rotation aligned perpendicularto the width of the plate. Generally, the axis of rotation is located inthe center of the plate, but may be placed off-center. The plate may becircular, triangular or rectangular, or the plate may be irregularly orasymmetrically shaped. The size and shape of the plate are selected toaccommodate the number of hitch balls, with sufficient space to allowfor towing operations. The hitch balls are spaced outward from the axisof rotation.

The plate is connected to the end of the shaft that is opposite from theend of the shaft connected to the receiver hitch, the former beingreferred to herein as the “distal end”. The plate is aligned parallel tothe side of the shaft, with the lower surface of the plate facing theside of the shaft. It may be understood that the shaft of the ball mountmay be straight, curved to “stepped”, for example, the distal end of theshaft and the end connected to the receiver hitch may be joined by avertical riser or a curved section, designed to position the hitch ballsat a desired height to meet a trailer. The plate and distal end of theshaft are aligned substantially parallel to the ground, in a horizontalplane.

The plate is connected to the shaft by an axle, which is alignedperpendicular to the shaft and through the axis of rotation of theplate. A first end of the axle is fastened to the distal end of theshaft, and a second end of the axle extends upward and is fastened tothe end of the plate, whereby the plate is allowed to rotate relative tothe shaft. Various methods may be used to fasten the axle to the shaft.For example, a hole may be drilled though the shaft, from one side toanother, and the first end of the axle fastened in place by a nutsecured to threads cut in the first end of the axle. In anotherembodiment, a hole may be drilled partially through the shaft, and thefirst end of the axle may be fastened in place by threads tapped in thehole or by welding. Similarly, various methods may be used to fasten thesecond end of the axle to the plate. For example, the second end of theaxle may be welded to the plate, provided that the axle is free torotate. In another alternative, the axle extends through a hole in theplate and is held in place by a nut secured to threads cut in the secondend. Regardless of the precise means selected to fasten the first andsecond ends of the axle to the shaft and plate, respectively, the plateis free to rotate about the axle, relative to the shaft, preferably afull 360°.

In embodiments of the invention where the axle rotates relative to theshaft, a grease fitting may be installed in a side of the shaft and incommunication with the hole in the shaft through which the axle isinserted, to provide lubrication.

During the operation of the trailer hitch, a hitch ball selected forcoupling to a trailer will be rotated into a position facing away fromthe towing vehicle and in the direction of the distal end of the shaft,i.e. away from the end of the shaft engaging the receiver hitch. Thetongue weight of a trailer is transferred downward from the hitch ballto the plate, which in turn is supported by the shaft. In one embodimentof the invention, the lower surface of the plate will be in contact withand will be supported by the side of the shaft, even without a load onthe hitch ball. It may be understood, that when the plate is rotated,for example, when a new hitch ball is selected, at least a portion ofthe lower surface of the plate will be in sliding contact with the sideof the shaft. In another embodiment, the lower surface of the platecomes in contact with and is supported by the side of the shaft when aload is placed on the hitch ball. For example, the tolerance between theplate, axle and shaft, is sufficiently great to allow the plate to restagainst the side of the shaft, when the plate is forced downward by thetongue weight of a trailer, such as while towing a trailer with a tongueweight of 350 lbs. or more.

The position of the axle, relative to the end of the shaft may beadvantageously selected to provide increased support for the force ofthe trailer tongue weight on the plate. For example, in one embodimentof the invention, the distal end of the shaft extends beyond the axis ofrotation of the plate, to a distance below the plate at least as far asan imaginary vertical centerline drawn through the hitch ball positionedto be coupled to a trailer. Greater support for the plate may beachieved by a design in which the distal end of the shaft extends to adistance below the plate at least as far as the entire base of the hitchball selected to be coupled to a trailer.

An advantage of the present invention is that it is unnecessary toprovide a stationary “base”, welded to the shaft and extending outwardbeneath the rotating plate, to support the rotating plate, as shown inthe prior art.

It may be possible to insert a gasket or washer, such as a Teflonwasher, between the lower surface of the plate, for example, to decreasefriction or to prevent moisture from entering the space between the axleand the shaft. In order to avoid creating a significant “moment arm”,the space between the lower surface of the plate and the side of theshaft is preferably ¼″ or less, preferably ⅛″ or less, most preferably3/32 or less.

Once a desired hitch ball is selected, the plate is locked in place, toprevent further rotation of the plate, relative to the shaft.Accordingly, a locking mechanism, which engages the plate and the shaft,and prevents their relative movement, is employed. By way of example,the locking mechanism may be a pin, such as a ball lock pin, which isinserted in a hole through the width of the plate and extends into acorresponding hole drilled partially or all the way through the side ofthe shaft, both holes being equidistant from the axle. The hole in theplate is in line with the selected hitching ball and the axis ofrotation of the plate, so that the hole in the plate will overlay thehole in the shaft. In one embodiment of the invention, a holecorresponding to each hitch ball is drilled through the plate, on theopposite side of the axis of rotation of the plate i.e. 180° from thecorresponding hitch ball. In the foregoing instance, the hole in theshaft comprising the locking mechanism is positioned between the axleand the end of the shaft connected to the receiver hitch. For example,when a plate with three hitch balls is employed, the hitch balls may bespaced 120° apart, and three holes may be spaced 120° apart, wherein theholes are positioned 60° relative to the hitch balls. The holes in theplate are spaced outward from the axis of rotation of the plate, butneed not be the same distance from the axis of rotation of the plate asthe hitch balls.

In another embodiment, the locking mechanism may be a bar, such as asquare bar, mounted in a recess in the shaft and biased inward to engagecorresponding notches positioned around the edge of the plate.

The ball mount can be constructed out of any material able to handle thestress introduced by a vehicle towing a trailer. Ordinarily the ballmount will be constructed out of metal. By way of example, the plate andshaft can be constructed out of steel, for example a low silica steel,and the hitch balls can be constructed out of steel, for example colddrawn or cold drawn annealed steel. The axle and locking mechanism arecan be constructed out of steel. The parts of the ball mount, can bepainted for aesthetics and to inhibit corrosion, except that the hitchballs are typically not painted.

The ball mount of the present invention is suitable for use as acomponent of a Class I, Class II, Class III and/or Class IV trailerhitch.

All of the United States patents cited in this application are herebyincorporated by reference.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective of the ball mount having three hitch balls andreceiver hitch (dashed lines).

FIG. 2 is a side view of the ball mount having three hitch balls.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the invention having three hitch balls attached to atriangular shaped plate is shown in FIG. 1. The plate has three flatsides and adjacent sides form approximately 60° angles. The hitch ballsare spaced at the apexes of the triangle, although the corners may berounded or truncated for convenience and safety, as shown in thedrawing. The triangular shape of the plate is particularly advantageouswith regard to utilization of raw materials, such as a sheet of steelfrom which plates are cut. For example, comparing a circular plate and atriangular plate, each having three hitch balls spaced the same distancefrom the axis of rotation and from each other, the yield of plates froma 4′ by 8′ sheet of steel is 35% greater with triangular plates relativeto circular plates.

Ball mount 1 has a shaft 2, which is inserted in opening 3 in receiverhitch 4. Shaft 2 is held securely in place by receiver pin 5, which isinserted through hole 6 in receiver hitch 4 and hole 7 in shaft 2, oncethe holes are aligned. The shaft may be made from a solid material or itmay be hollow. Typical shaft sizes are 2″ by 2″ square cross-section,but can be varied depending upon the weight bearing requirements.

Plate 8 is mounted on the end of shaft 2. Hitch balls 9 are attached tothe upper side of plate 8. Each of hitch balls 9 are characterized by asphere 10, shank 11 and base 12. In FIG. 1, hitch balls 9 are attachedto plate 8 at base 12 by welding. Each of the three hitch balls have adifferent diameter, to fit a variety of trailers.

The thickness of plate 8 is selected to provide the desired strength andresistance to the stresses introduced in towing a trailer. By way ofexample, the thickness of plate 8 may range from ¼″ to ⅝″, and willtypically be ⅜″ to ½″ thick.

Holes 13 have been drilled through the width of plate 8. Three holes areprovided corresponding to each of the three hitch balls. Hitch balls 9and holes 13 are spaced outward from the axis of rotation 14 of plate 8.Hitch balls 9 are arranged 120° apart. Holes 13 are also arranged 120°apart from each other, and staggered approximately 60° relative to hitchballs 9. By way of example, the three hitch balls may be 1⅞, 2″ and 25/16″ in diameter.

Ball pin 15 is inserted through hole 13′ in plate 8 and through hole 16in shaft 2 (shown in FIG. 2), thereby preventing rotation of plate 8relative to shaft 2, with hitch ball 9′ presented for coupling to atrailer. Hitch ball 9′, hole 13′ and axis of rotation 14 are in line,which allows ball pin 15 to engage both plate 8 and shaft 2, with hitchball 9′ facing away from the rear of a vehicle. Cable 16 is attached atone end to ball pin 15 and the other end to shaft 2, and prevents ballpin 15 from becoming separated from ball mount 1.

Handle 17 is welded to the end of shaft 2 (distal end), for carryingball mount 1.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment of the invention shown inFIG. 1. Plate 8 is connected to shaft 2 by axle 18. The lower end ofaxle 18 is threaded and engaged by nut 19, which acts to fasten thelower end of the axle 18 to shaft 2. Nut 19 may be prevented fromunscrewing by welding nut 19 and axle 18 together, or other method knownto those skilled in the art, such as a cotter pin (not shown). The upperend of axle 18 is fastened to plate 8 by welding, which allows axle 18to rotate in hole 20 of shaft 2. A grease fitting 21 is tapped into theside of shaft 2, for lubricating axle 18.

Although not shown in FIG. 2, it may be understood that axle 18 may befixed relative to shaft 2, for example by welding, and plate 8 may beallowed to rotate relative to axle 18.

FIG. 2 shows ball pin 15 inserted through hole 22 in shaft 2, which isaligned perpendicular to plate 8 and parallel to the axis of rotation14.

The end of shaft 2 beneath plate 8 is identified as distal end 23(distal relative to the end inserted into receiver hitch 4). Distal end23 extends beyond an imaginary centerline 24 drawn through sphere 10 ofhitch ball 9′, and even extends beyond base 12 of hitch ball 9′, whenhitch ball 9′ is rotated to a position in line with shaft 2 and in thedirection of distal end 23, that is, away from receiver hitch 4.

Plate 8 and the side of shaft 2 are in contact at interface 25 belowhitch ball 9′. Thus, the downward force on hitch ball 9′ and plate 8,caused by the tongue weight of a trailer, is counteracted by shaft 2. Itmay also be understood that the close proximity of plate 8 to the sideof shaft 2, as measured at axle 18, and shown as space 26 in FIG. 2,minimizes the moment arm formed by the plate and axle, relative to theshaft, which is generated by horizontal forces, especially inertia,arising from the gross weight of the trailer during towing.

The invention may be further understood by reference to the followingclaims.

1. A ball mount component of a trailer hitch comprising: (a) a shafthaving an end shaped to fit into a receiver component of a trailerhitch, a distal end and a side; (b) a plate aligned parallel to the sideof the shaft and having (i) an axis of rotation perpendicular to a widthof the plate; (ii) an upper surface; and (iii) a lower surface facingthe side of the shaft; (c) a plurality of hitch balls attached to theplate and extending outward from the upper surface of the plate; (d) anaxle aligned perpendicular to the distal end of the shaft, wherein (i) afirst end of the axle is fastened to the distal end of the shaft,whereby the distal end of the shaft extends beyond the axis of rotationof the plate, to a distance below the plate at least as far as animaginary vertical centerline drawn through a hitch ball positioned tobe coupled to a trailer and (ii) a second end of the axle extendsoutward from the side of the shaft and is fastened to the plate alongits axis of rotation, wherein the lower surface of the plate below thehitch ball positioned to be coupled to a trailer is in contact with andsupported by the side of the shaft and the plate is free to rotate 360°relative to the shaft; and (e) a locking mechanism capable of engagingthe plate and the shaft, and preventing rotation of the plate, relativeto the shaft.
 2. The ball mount of claim 1, wherein the distal end ofthe shaft extends beyond the axis of rotation of the plate, to adistance below the plate at least as far as an entire base of the hitchball positioned to be coupled to a trailer.
 3. The ball mount of claim1, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a pin inserted through a holespaced outward from the axis of rotation of the plate and extendingthrough the width of the plate, and a hole in the distal end of theshaft.
 4. The ball mount of claim 1, wherein the plate is triangularshaped and has three hitch balls positioned in the apexes of thetriangular shape.
 5. The ball mount of claim 4, wherein the lockingmechanism comprises a pin, inserted through a hole extending through thewidth of the plate, spaced outward from the axis of rotation the plate,and a hole in the distal end of the shaft, wherein the hole in the plateis located in line with the hitch ball positioned to be coupled to atrailer and the axis of rotation of the plate, and is positioned 180°from the hitch ball.
 6. A ball mount component of a trailer hitchcomprising: (a) a shaft having an end shaped to fit into a receivercomponent of a trailer hitch, a distal end, wherein an upper side of thedistal end has a first hole for receiving an axle and a second hole forreceiving a locking pin; (b) a plate aligned parallel to the side of theshaft and having (i) an axis of rotation perpendicular to a width of theplate; (ii) an upper surface; (iii) a lower surface facing the side ofthe shaft; and (iv) a plurality of holes extending though the width ofthe plate and spaced outward from the axis of rotation; (c) a pluralityof hitch balls attached to the plate and extending outward from theupper surface of the plate; (d) means to attach the hitch balls to theplate, wherein the hitch ball attaching means do not protrude beyond thelower surface of the plate; (e) an axle aligned perpendicular to thedistal end of the shaft, wherein (i) a first end of the axle ispositioned in the first hole in the shaft and fastened to the distal endof the shaft and (ii) a second end of the axle extends outward from theside of the shaft and is fastened to the plate along its axis ofrotation, allowing the plate to rotate relative to the shaft; and (f) alocking pin positioned through one of the holes in the plate and thesecond hole in the distal end of the shaft, thereby preventing rotationof the plate, relative to the shaft.
 7. The ball mount of claim 6,wherein the lower surface of the plate is in sliding contact with theside of the shaft, when the plate is rotated.
 8. The ball mount of claim7, wherein the plate is triangular shaped and has three hitch ballspositioned in the apexes of the triangular shape.
 9. The ball mount ofclaim 6, wherein the tolerance between the plate, the axle and theshaft, is sufficiently great to allow the plate to rest against the sideof the shaft, when the plate is forced downward by a trailer having atongue weight of 350 lbs. or more, coupled to a hitch ball.
 10. The ballmount of claim 9, wherein the distal end of the shaft extends beyond theaxis of rotation of the plate, to a distance below the plate at least asfar as an imaginary vertical centerline drawn through a hitch ballpositioned to be coupled to a trailer.
 11. The ball mount of claim 10,wherein the plate is triangular shaped and has three hitch ballspositioned in the apexes of the triangular shape, and the plate may berotated 360°.
 12. The ball mount of claim 9, wherein the distal end ofthe shaft extends beyond the axis of rotation of the plate, to adistance below the plate at least as far as the entire base of a hitchball positioned to be coupled to a trailer.
 13. Trailer hitch comprisinga receiver hitch component, attachable to a vehicle and a ball mountcomponent connected to the receiver hitch, wherein the ball mountcomponent further comprises: (a) a shaft having an end connected to thereceiver hitch component, a distal end and a side; (b) a plate alignedparallel to the side of the shaft and having (i) an axis of rotationperpendicular to a width of the plate; (ii) an upper surface; and (iii)a lower surface facing the side of the shaft; (c) a plurality of hitchballs attached to the plate and extending outward from the upper surfaceof the plate; (d) an axle aligned perpendicular to the distal end of theshaft, wherein (i) a first end of the axle is fastened to the distal endof the shaft, and positioned in a hole and (ii) a second end of the axleextends outward from the side of the shaft and is fastened to the platealong its axis of rotation, allowing the plate to rotate 360° relativeto the shaft, wherein the distance between the lower surface of theplate and the side of the shaft is ¼″ or less; and (e) a lockingmechanism capable of engaging the plate and the shaft, and preventingrotation of the plate, relative to the shaft.
 14. The trailer hitch ofclaim 13, wherein the tolerance between the plate, the axle and theshaft of the ball mount component is sufficiently great to allow theplate to rest against the side of the shaft, when the plate is forceddownward by a trailer having a tongue weight of 350 lbs. or more,coupled to a hitch ball.
 15. The trailer hitch of claim 14, wherein thedistal end of the shaft extends beyond the axis of rotation of theplate, to a distance below the plate at least as far as an imaginaryvertical centerline drawn through a hitch ball positioned to be coupledto a trailer.
 16. The trailer hitch of claim 14, wherein the distal endof the shaft extends beyond the axis of rotation of the plate, to adistance below the plate at least as far as the entire base of a hitchball positioned to be coupled to a trailer.
 17. The trailer hitch ofclaim 13, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a pin, insertedthrough a hole spaced outward from the axis of rotation the plate andextending through the width of the plate, and a hole in the distal endof the shaft, wherein the hole in the plate is located in line with ahitch ball positioned to be coupled to a trailer and the axis ofrotation of the plate, and the hole is positioned 180° from the hitchball.
 18. The trailer hitch of claim 13, wherein the distance betweenthe lower surface of the plate and the side of the shaft is 3/32″ orless, the plate is triangular shaped and has three hitch ballspositioned in the apexes of the triangular shape.
 19. A ball mountcomponent of a trailer hitch comprising: (a) a shaft having an endshaped to fit into a receiver component of a trailer hitch, a distal endand a side; (b) a plate having a thickness of ¼ inch to ⅝ inch alignedparallel to the side of the shaft and having (i) an axis of rotationperpendicular to a width of the plate; (ii) an upper surface; and (iii)a lower surface facing the side of the shaft; (c) a plurality of hitchballs attached to the plate and extending outward from the upper surfaceof the plate; (d) an axle aligned perpendicular to the distal end of theshaft, wherein (i) a first end of the axle is fastened to the distal endof the shaft and (ii) a second end of the axle extends outward from theside of the shaft and is fastened to the plate along its axis ofrotation, wherein the lower surface of the plate is in contact with andsupported by the side of the shaft and the plate is free to rotate 360°relative to the shaft; and (e) a locking mechanism capable of engagingthe plate and the shaft, and preventing rotation of the plate, relativeto the shaft.
 20. The ball mount of claim 19, wherein the distal end ofthe shaft extends beyond the axis of rotation of the plate, to adistance below the plate at least as far as an entire base of a hitchball positioned to be coupled to a trailer.
 21. The ball mount of claim20, wherein the plate is triangular shaped and has three hitch ballspositioned in the apexes of the triangular shape, and the plate may berotated 360°.